Railway or other vehicles



Feb. 23, 1937. E. A. swEl-:LEY Ef A1.

RAILWAY OR OTHER VEHICLES Filed .JulyA 24, 193% 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L I Norman Tnderson 1 Feb. 23, 1,937. E. A. swEELEY tr N.'

RAILWAY 0R OTHER VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24. lss

Edward- Jz wed y Norman 7.-ncLe/rs0n Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES RAILWAY R OTHER VEHICLES Edward A. Sweeley, Alexandria, Va., and Norman T'. Anderson, Washington, D. C,

Appiieaiion July 24, 193s, serial No. 92,420'

' 14 claims., (ci. 10s-@316i This invention relates to improvements in* to a vehicle merchandise chamberhaving two` relatively movable parallel sections which are constructed for nested or intertted relation in,

the stored position of the movable section, to

15 provide, in effect, a single wall structure for standard loading within the merchandise chainber. The movable section, when removed from its nested position may be placed in a'desired .position within the merchandise chamber to serve 20 as a separate bulkhead. 'This construction o'iIer's the peculiar advantages of a sturdy, reinforced movablewbulkhead, without sacrifice of a substantial amount of the loading space of the merchandise chamber when the movable Abulkhead 215 occupies its stored, nested position.

The construction of this invention contrasts with those of the prior art. where the movable bulkhead, when stored within the merchandise chamber, occupies cargo space, at least4 in an 3() amount, corresponding to its three overall dimensions, and where the stored bulkhead leaves an obstructed merchandise chambeigrwhich interferes to some extent with the plane loading space surfaces at the iioor, ceiling, four side and end 35 walls. o Where the yconstruction of this invention is used between compartments, such as, the ice and merchandise chambers of a railway refrigerator car, for which use it is well adapted, it offers fur- 40 ther advantages. .For such use, the construction in its nested arrangement provides, in effect,

.a single wall structure, in which the reinforced movable bulkhead as a part thereof may directly take the thrust'of the load or cargo and permit 45 the stationary wall section to be designed prin-` cipally for the purpose of retaining the ice in the bunker and resisting the deforming'stresses of the ice load. The stationary wall section may, Y' therefore, be of lighter construction than would 5 0 be required if it had to withstand the whole thrust of the load.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide for storage of a movable bulkhead within a merchandise chamber, without substantially ino6 creasing the size of the chamber and to provide a maximum amount of loading space'when the bulkhead is in the stored position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a nested relation between a wall of a merchandise chamber and a movableibulkhead when the latter 5 is placed in stored position within the merchandise chamber.

Another object is to eliminate projections within a' merchandise chamber, when a movable bulkhead is stored therein. v 10 A still further object of this invention is to provide a combined wall structure comprising two closely nesting sections, one oi which consists of 'a fixed Wall section or partition, land the other of a bulkhead, which for certain types of shipment may be removed from its nested position and suitably adjusted in a different position within the chamber to serve the function of the usual movablebulkhead.

Another object of the invention is to provide a merchandise chamber with an end wall structure which has a thickness approximating that of'a conventional wall structure for that part o f the merchandise chamber, and which is divided into two parallel nesting sections, -oneof which is movable to form an intermediate bulkhead within the chamber. o a V A further object is tostore a bulkhead in a merchandise chamber s o that it leaves a clear cargo space of standard dimensional vspeciiicaf- 3dl tions as to height, width and length; This is an 'important 'consideration for shippers who demand this dimensional feature in order to secure maximum loading space for shipping containers which. are of a size that is chosen with respect to the said standard dimensional specifications. l

Other' objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a 40 perspective view of one end of a railway refrigerator car equipped with an embodiment of this invention, the car roof as well as the outer walls andeinsulation being omitted from the ligure for better illustrative purposes. a

Figure II is a diagrammatic view taken from the side of a railway car having a wall construction embodying this invention and shows the loading space of standard length when the bulkhead is in the nested or stored position. Figure 1I, for :sol

Figure III is a horizontal sectional view (with I6 parts broken away) taken on line III- III of Figure I, land shows in addition a horizontal crosssection through conventional car walls. In this figure, the movable bulkhead is shown in its nested or stored position.

Figure IV is a vertical sectional view taken on line IV-IV of 'FigureHL but with the movable bulkhead adjusted to a position away from the stationary partition.

Figures V and VI are enlarged detail views partly in section and taken on lines V--V and VI-VI respectively of Figure HI, parts being broken away for illustration purposes.

Figure VII is a perspective view of the bolt housing shown in Figures III and VI.

For the purposes of illustrating this invention,

the drawings show a conventional railway refrigerator car provided with'a preferred embodiment of the invention. The railway car has the usual arrangement of merchandise chamber or lading space I, and an ice bunker or chamber 2 at each end.

that of conventional undivided bulkheads, in railway refrigerator cars, between the ice bunkers and the merchandise chamber.

VSection 3 of the wall structure provides a stationary or xed partition between the chambers I and 2, and its frame structure comprises a number of vertical posts I0 extending between the top and bottom channel-shaped bars or members I2 and I I (see Figures I and IV). Other. means, however, may be provided for supporting the ends of posts I0. Suitable means, such as rivets, bolts, or 4welding may be used to secure the posts III to the bars II and I2, while the latter are secured respectivelyto the car floor framing and ceiling by any suitable means, such as bolts. Posts I0 may be of either wood or metal, and, for example` may be formed by stamping or pressingsheet metal to provide flanged channel bars, 'as shown in the drawings, or other suitable construction. In erected position, as, shown for illustrative purposes, the posts Ill present spaced-apart, para1lel, 'channel-shaped recesses or set-back areas with Viianges extending laterally from the sides of the recesses. Panels comprising insulation I3 and A insulation covering I4 are provided between the posts I0, and these panels are held in place against the post sides and flanges by cleats I5, suitably secured directly to the posts l0. Cleats I5 also serve as a support to which the screen I 6 is secured to provide vertical channels or columns I'I for air circulation. In order to permit air circulation between the ice bunkers and merchandise chambers, 2 and I respectively, the insulation panels do not extend all the Way tothe car floor and ceiling, but are of vertical extent to leave upper and lower bulkhead openings I8 and I9 (see Figure IV) for the desired air circulation. Screen I6, however, preferably extends from ice supporting rack or grate (not shown) .to ceiling, and serves to confine the ice to the ice bunkers 2, While permitting free circulation ofair between ther lading compartment and ice bunkers.

'Ihe movable section 4, which in the illustrated embodiment may be termed an auxiliary bulk- Figures I and IV.

`between iposts I0 (see Figure IV).

rial, to present a plane loading space wall surface on one side of the bulkhead, and a numberl of spaced, parallel, upright, frame members 26 projecting from the reverse side of the bulkhead. 'I'he members 26 may be of any suitable material and shape, and the metal bars of channel section, as shown in the drawings are considered as a form of reinforcement or bracing that might be used.

These channel bars 26 are spaced laterally in order to register with, and 'to lie within the channel recesses in posts I 0 (see Figure III) when the bulkhead 4 is shifted against the xed Wallsection or partition 3. This arrangement provides a nested or interiitting relation between partition 3 and bulkhead 4, in which they together form, in effect, a single wall structure to permit storage of the movable bulkhead 4 in a minimum amount of space. While the drawings show both the members 26 and the recessed uprights IIJ for receiving same arranged in a spaced-apart, vertical, parallel design, it is readily apparent that the invention may be practiced with other arrangements for the reinforcing members 26 and the recesses. The important feature is to provide the recesses with such shape, size, and position that they will receive in a nesting relationship the particular projecting reinforcement provided for the movable bulkhead 4.

If desired the bulkhead or movable section 4 may be further reinforced, for example, by frame members 2l and 28, .of any suitable form, secured to channel bars 26 by means of rivets or the like.

angle bar, and member 26 a flat strap,'as shown in In order that the movable bulkhead may permit air circulation in the car, necessary for some types of shipments, the upper and lower limits of the bulkhead facing 25 substantially coincide in extent with those for the insulation panels Screen 23 andthe spaces above and below strap 28 permit air criculation past the bulkhead 4 at its top and bottom. At the same time, the screen 29 and strap 28 prevent small packages or other merchandise from being pushed or falling past the bulkhead 4 to the space in the rear of the bulk'- head when it occupies a. position away from partition 3 or when it is in the interfltted position.

When a particular shipment does not require refrigeration, and the car is shipped with the ice chambers empty, the merchandise chamber I of the refrigerator car is sometimes unlawfully entered by way of the ice bunker 2 and the merchandise pilfered. Screen 29'and strap 28, therefore, serve the additional function of providing effective obstacles at the top and bottom of the bulkhead to unlawful entry into the lading compartment by way of the ice bunkers.

The section or bulkhead 4 is suitably supported for convenient shifting movement along the length of the merchandise chamber. The bulkhead supporting means may comprise rollers 40 mounted one at either side of the bulkhead 4, secured adjacent the top thereof and riding on a track 4I, set in the side wall of the car, and substantially flush with the face of car lining. Vertical movement of each roller 4I!A is limited by the height of the wall recess above the .track 4I, and

lateral movement by anA upwardly extending, outer, vertical flange of track 4I (see Figure V) The means for securing the rollers 4I) -to the bulkhead 4 comprises a member\ 42. (see Figure V) having a horizontal bearing arm extending through an aperture in the web of an outer channel bar 26 to serveV as an axle for the roller 40, and a downwardly extending vertical arm suitably secured to the web of the channel bar 26, as by riveting. Rollers 4I) and their axles so support the bulkhead 4 that its bottom, is supported above the floor rack and the sides bf the bulkhead are clear of the car s ide walls in shifting along the car. Rollers 40 also support the bulk- 'head 4 so that. the channel bars 26 and angle bar 21 will clear the lower edge of the channel bar I'2 (see Figure IV) when the bulkhead 4 is shifted to nest with partition 3.

In its shifting movement on rollers 40, the bulkhead may be suitably guided at its lower end. This bulkhead guide may comprise the rounded ends of strap 28 which slide in horizontal grooves of the plates'45 set 'in the car side Walls. A'suitable roller guide construction of conventional design may be used, however, in lieu: of the guide shown in the drawings. Y

After the bulkhead 4 is adjusted to a desired position, either against partition 3 or in some removed position and within .the merchandise chamber I, it is secured in place by means of one or more locking pins or bolts 50. .The latter are mounted in bolt housings 5I secured, as by welding, to reinforcing channel bars 26. In the projected position (see Figures III and VI) each bolt 50 extends through an, opening in the web of its adjacent channel bar 26, and into a registering aperture in perforated side -wall plates 52', theentered aperture corresponding to the position of adjustment of the bulkheadA 4. Each bolt 50 4is held in either its projected or retracted position by a depending lu'g 53 which engages the intermediate wall 54 of the b olt housing element 5I.

Before a bolt 50 can be moved toward or from its .projected position, it must first be turned on its longitudinal axis through an angle of 180, in order to bring lug 53 into alignment rwith the upper elongated portion of opening 55 in the intermediate wall 54 of the bolt housing 5I. The bolts 5I) and their housings 5I are preferably positioned at the rear o f the bulkhead 4 so that the front of the latter is entirely free of projec' tions, and presents the desi-red plane loading wall surface. In order that the bolts 50 may be operated from the front side of the bulkhead, suitable hand hole openings 56 are provided in the bulkhead facing 25 (see Figures 1 and 111).

The partition 3 and the two outermost posts I are modified in certain areas to accommodate the rollers 4|), bolts 50, and bolt housings 5 I, when partition 3 and bulkhead 4 are in the nested relation, as will be seen in Figure III. At the level of the rollers 40, aportion of each of the outermost posts .I0 is removed or suitably modified to vpermit roller 40 to move along on the track 4I to a position within the projected limits of partition 3. :At the levels of thebolt housings I,

additional or special recesses 51 for receiving vehicle structure.

The'end posts I0 also have In .one use of-the bulkhead 4, for example,

where the shipment consists of boxed or crated determined by laying end-to-end` and in a' line,

'as many of the boxes making up the shipment as the full length of the lading o r merchandise chamber I permits. Generally, the box at one end of the line will be spaced a distance, for example from 5 to 15 inches, from the adjacent end wall. 'I'he movable bulkhead 4 at that end of the car is now shifted to a position against this end box and bolted in the adjusted position to leave an empty space -between the bulkhead 4 and partition-3 (see Figures I and IV). The loading of merchandise chamber I is now completed between the adjusted bulkhead 4 and the opposite end wall of the chamber I, .which wall may or may not be constructed of nested sections in accordance with this invention. By adjusting the bulkhead 44 and altering the loading space so that it will conform to the requirement ofthe shipment, shifting of the latter` during transit is avoided. This construction eliminates thenecessity for the usual and objectional temporary end brace, of s o-called f2 by 4s" and wider facing strips, which ordinarily are nailed to the Make-shift braces of this nature arenot suited for general use and arel scrapped or discarded as wasteat the point of destination of the shipment. Braces of this.

make-shift kind also, and not infrequently, cause damage to the vehicle'structure due to theanail# ing, and to the shipment in event of their becoming broken or loosened in use.

Where the shipment isdesigned for standard loading and/or will substantially ll the merchandise chamber I, the bulkhead 4 may bev stored by its placementand securing in nested relation with partition 3. Inl such position, bulkhead 4 and partition 3 form, infeilect, a single, rigid wall structure and thus serve ,jointly to take the thrust of the cargo loading, but with the bulk- -head 4 directly takingthe thrust of the load.

1f the partition 3 at no time contacts the shipment due to the use of the bulkhead as above indicated, itmay be constructed, for the purposes of economy, of simple design and-without reference to a. requisite strengtl'and resistance to thrust.' stresses imposed by the load, but merely to withstand the ice pressure in shifting shocks.

The invention offers the further advantage that the wall structure, composed ofv its two sections 3 y head at one end of the merchandise chamber sothat the chamber is clear and suitable for standard loading and the length of the cargo space from the stored bulkhead 4 to theopposite end of the chamber I, as illustrated in Figure I1,` is

in agreement with the ,standard dimensional specications for the loading space -of cars without storedor movable bulkheads.

While the above describes one method of use of themovable bulkhead 4, other possible uses are readily apparent. 'I'he roller tracks 4I,` for example, may extend for any desired distance along theside walls ofthe loading space or compartment-.I, or even continuously from,.end'to I or doorway of the chamber I.

end of the merchandise chamber, and thus permit use of the bulkhead 4 as a load brace at the center of the car where it is desired to load from the'ends of the lading space toward the center This type of bracing is sometimes used for shipments of crated peaches and the like. Where the bulkhead 4 is to be used at the center of the merchandise chamber, `a. sturdier construction may be required and provided for the partition 3.

In one possible use of this invention, wall section 3 may constitute one of the end or sidewalls of the car. The drawings, however, show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative, and that the appended claims are intended to cover such other embodiments as are within the scope of the invention.

We claim: Y 1. In a bulkhead or partition for use inthe loading space of a railway or other vehicle, the combination comprising a two part structure,

' of which one part is fixed with reference to the y and resistance to load and ice forces.

2. In a railway or other vehicle for transport- .ing merchandise the combination comprising: a

merchandise chamber, and a. bulkhead extending across the merchandise chamber and mounted for adjustment longitudinally thereof and to a position against the face of an inner end wall of the chamber, said bulkhead comprising means presenting a, substantially plane wall surface at its front side to the interior of the merchandise chamber and at its reverse side and projecting therefrom a series of spaced reinforcing elements, said inner end wall having set-back portions to receive in nesting relation the said reinforcing Y elements of said bulkhead in its position of adjustment against said end wall, said bulkhead in said position of adjustment andthe adjacentareas of the inner side walls of the merchandise chamber providing substantiallyplane loadingspace wall surfaces forv the end of the merchandise chamber.

3. In a railway or other vehicle for transport- Y ing merchandise the combination comprising: a

merchandise chamber; a bulkhead extending across the merchandise chamber; means supporting said bulkhead in a substantially vertical position and providing for adjustment of the bulkhead along the chamber and to a position against the face of an inner end wall of said merchandise chamber; and means to engage the vehicle structure for securing said bulkhead in its positions of adjustment; said bulkhead comprising means presenting a substantially -plane wall surface at its front side to the interior of the merchandise chamber, and means projecting from the reverse side of the bulkhead and providing a. reinforcement therefor; said inner end wall having set-back portions to receive in nesting relation the said projecting means of said bulkhead in its position of adjustment against said end wall; said bulkhead in said position of adjustment and the adjacent areas ofthe inner side walls of the merchandise chamber providing substantially plane loading-space wall surfaces for the end of the merchandise chamber.

4. In a railway or other vehicle having side and end walls defining a merchandise chamber: the combination of a partition disposed transversely of'the vehicle and iixed with relation to a wall thereof, said partition having members presenting spaced recesses in one face thereof,

the depth of said recesses being approximatelyv the same as the thickness of said partition; and a bulkhead paralleling said fixed partition and shiftable toward and away therefrom, said Ibulkhead comprising means presenting a substantially plane wall surface, at its front face, and a number of spaced reinforcing bars' projecting from the reversel side of the bulkhead, said reinforcing bars being arranged as to spacing to be received within said recesses in the position of adjustment of said bulkhead against said partition.

5. In a railway car construction according to claim 2, wherein the substantially plane wall surface of the bulkhead in the position of adjustment of the bulkhead against the inner end wall is spaced from'the opposite loading space wall surface a distance defining the length of the cargo space in substantial agreement with the standard dimensional specications for the loading space of cars with fixed bulkheads.

6. In a railway car according to claim 2, wherein the projecting reinforcing elements are received wholly within said set-back portions and said projecting elements and said inner end wall are of substantially the same thickness.

7. In a railway car according to claim 2, wherein said inner end wall` and the bulkhead in its position of adjustment therea'gain'st are in nested' .adjustable with,respect to the other lengthwise of the car and having back-to-back relation in one positionof adjustment to provide asingle wall structure between said chambers, one of said sections having set-back portions, and the other of said sections having projecting reinforcing means positioned to register with and to be received within said set-back portions in the backto-back position of adjustment of said sections.

9. In a railway car or other vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the projecting reinforcing means are received wholly within thel bulkhead section having the set-back portions, and said projecting means and said last-named bulkhead section are of substantially the same thickness.

10. In a railway or other vehicle having a merchandise chamber, a wall structure for s aid chamber comprising two intertting parallel sections in back-to-back relation, one of the Sections being movable relatively to the other to provide a bulkhead in a desired position of adjustment within the merchandise chamber, said sections in the intertted relation providing a wall structure of a thickness approximating that of a conventional undivided wall structure for. that part of the usual merchandise chamber.

11. In a railway or other vehicle for transporting merchandise the combination comprising: a merchandise chamber having recessed opposite walls; tracks set in the recesses of said walls; a bulkhead extending between said opposite walls; rollers supporting said bulkhead and riding on chamber; and'bolts mounted on said bulkhead? and operable to engage the vehicle structure for securingsaid bulkhead in its positions of adjus'tment; saidbuikhead comprising means presenting a substantially plane wall surface atitsfront side to the interior of bulkhead and providing a reinforcementtherefor; said inner wallof the merchandise chamber having set-back portions to receive in-nesting relavtion the said projecting means of said bulkhead inits position of adjustment against said inner wall. j

12. In a railway or other vehicle for transport- 'ingmerchandise the combination comprising; a merchandise chamber having its l side walls. and an end wall providedmeans projecting from its reverse 'side to provide a reinforcement therefor; and means providing for 4 adjustment of the bulkhead along the fchamber and to a position in 'which said projecting reinforcement is, receivedv in nesting relation within the recesses in 'said end wall; said adjustment means' comprising rollers secured izo-'the bulkhead. and tracks ,mounted in the recesses of said side walls and supporting said rollers, saidside Vwall recesses and tracks serving to `conil'ne vsaid rollers to prevent accidental disengagement be'` tween said rollers and tracks.

13. In a railway or other vehicle fdr'transporting merchandise the merchandise chamber havingits side walls andi an-end wall provided with: recesses; a bulkhead the merchandise chamber; and means projecting from-the reverse side of the' `ber .and mounted for with recesses; a bulkhead having a plane wall surface at its front side and 'f ,viding substantially combination comprising: ai vfaces for the end of theimerchandisechamber.

` to the interior having a plane-.wall surface at its front side and means projecting from its -reverse side to provide vforcement is received' in n esting relationwithln the recesses in said end wall; fsaid adjustment means comprising rollers secured to the bulkhead,

and utracks mounted in therecesses of said side walls and vsupporting said rollers; and bulkhead guide means comprising'. grooves `in said side walls, and guidemembers mounted l on said bulkhead and slidablyreceived within'said grooves.

14.--In'a railway or'other vehicle for transporting merchandise the combination comprising: a merchandise chamber for loads-of varying in accordance with said bulkhead'being also adiustablet'o a stored a. substantially plane wall surface at its front side of tlri'e merchandise chamber and at its reverse side and projecting therefromv a series of 4spaced reinforcing elements,..saidn inner .end-wall having set-back portions to'l receive in -nesting relation the said reinforcing elements of said .bulkhead in its against said endv wall, said\bu1khead in' 4said position of adjustment and theadiacent 'areas of the inner side walls of the merchandise chamber proplane loam-space wall sur- EDWARD swEnLEY.- NORMAN 'r.

position oi adjustmentl size, and a bulkhead extending across the chamadjustment longitudinally thereof to-vary the loading space of said chambery the requirementof the 1oad,.20 

